INTERIM RESTRICTION ORDER: Into the River by Ted Dawes

Published in The Public Notices of The Dominion Post, Thursday 10 September 2015, B8

I hearby make this interim restriction order in respect of the publication Into the River.

I am satisfied that it is in the public interest to do so.

This order is made under section 49 of the Films, Videos, and Publication Classification Act 1993.

Family First has applied to review the current decision of the Classification Office in respect of the publication, It has made submissions in support of an additional application for an interim restriction order.

The order is in the public interest for the following reasons.

The classification of Into The River under the Act is a matter of wide public concern, as evidenced by the volume of submissions to the Classification Office and published comments.

The decision of the Classification Office would radically alter the decision of the Board of Review.

It is particularly appropriate that the Board should have an opportunity to consider the publication a fresh without being inhibited in any way by any distribution occurring between now and the date of the Board’s decision.

It is debatable, and a matter of independent public interest, whether the Chief Censor acted lawfully under section 42(3)(b) of the Act in deciding that “special circumstances” exist.

It is highly arguable whether the Classification Office has reached the correct conclusion on the application for reconsideration before it.

The correct classification of Into the River under the Act will operate as a semi-precedent, and will exert a significant influence upon other decisions portraying teenage sex and drug-taking.

Pursuant to section 50(2) I direct that Family First must advertise the making of this Order in a daily newspaper published in each of the following cities: Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. It must serve notice of the making of this Order on all those persons who made submissions to the Classification Office in respect of the reconsideration of Into the River.

Dr D.L. Mathieson QC, President of the Film and Literature Board of Review.